Inside the Azure Dragon Palace was a young girl who was said to be talented in rare psychic magic. It is a sought-after talent in the Empire and the officials specifically placed the girl in the Azure Dragon Palace to secure such talent for the crown prince. She came from humble beginnings and was adopted by the Chinen family who had discovered her talent. Her talent further bloomed with the guidance of the Chinen family leading her to impress even the Emperor. It was said that she was a striking woman with long, flowing black hair that cascaded down her back like a silken waterfall. Her eyes, deep and enigmatic, glimmer with a quiet intelligence and kindness that draws people in. She carries herself with an air of grace, her movements fluid and deliberate, as though she is part of a secret dance. Her name is Chinen Suzuki, the princess consort of the Azure Dragon Palace.
Inside the master chamber of the palace was the very same girl. She however didn't look exactly well and one could say that she looked the exact opposite of what was described earlier. " Cough* Cough* " In the bed was Princess Suzuki, her once vibrant form now frail and shadowed by illness, the long black hair that had once shimmered with life now fanned limply across the pillow. Her pale skin contrasted starkly against the sheets, and her chest rose and fell in shallow, labored breaths. " Let me die... It hurts so much... Please end my suffering... " The head maid of the Azure Princess, a commanding presence with an air of unshakable authority, gripped the apprentice maid's arm tightly, her movements swift and decisive.
The apprentice maid's eyes, once filled with youthful curiosity, now burned with an unnatural intensity, glazed over by the sinister grip of psychic magic. Her trembling hands, still clutching the dagger she had been compelled to take, told the grim story of the enchantment's dark command: to end the suffering of the Azure Princess. The head maid's stern expression betrayed no hesitation as she dragged the thrashing girl from the room. The apprentice maid's voice was a blend of pleading and defiance, her words twisted by the lingering influence of the psychic magic.
The head maid's voice, low and resolute, echoed through the ornate chamber, issuing sharp orders to seal the room and summon aid. Her unwavering focus on protecting the princess overshadowed the ominous pulse of psychic energy that still lingered in the air, a chilling reminder of the danger narrowly averted.
" My legs hurt from walking Rin. Why do we lowly servants need to walk while those above us use carriages! "
Rin and Harumi arrived near the Azure Dragon Palace on a serene spring day, the grandeur of the entrance almost distracting from Harumi's incessant complaints about her aching legs. Rin barely acknowledged her, captivated by the breathtaking beauty before them. The path to the palace was lined with blossoming cherry trees, their pink petals drifting down like soft rain, while the air was fragrant with the sweet aroma of wisteria cascading from the walls. The golden lanterns at the gates shimmered in the sunlight, and the polished marble steps seemed to invite them into the majestic halls beyond. Even as Harumi grumbled, her voice mingling with the chirping birds, the serene elegance of the palace made it impossible for Rin to be anything but awestruck.
" You can complain to the heavens about being born as a commoner. If you beg them well, you might be given the chance to be a princess. "
Rin walked ahead with confident strides, his gaze fixed on the beauty surrounding the path to the Azure Dragon Palace. The cherry blossoms swayed gently in the breeze, their pale pink petals carpeting the ground, while golden lanterns hung elegantly, casting a soft glow in the spring sunlight. Behind him, Harumi trudged along, her slouched shoulders and occasional sighs making her irritation evident. Rin glanced back briefly but kept his pace steady, his posture tall as if willing her to follow his lead and admire the splendor around them. When they finally reached the grand entrance, the imposing figure of the head maid greeted them, her poised and commanding presence drawing their attention immediately.
" Greetings guests of the White Flower Palace. I am Fujikawa Rina the head maid of the Azure Dragon palace."
Rin and Harumi stood before the head maid, their postures straight and respectful, before lowering themselves into a deep formal bow. Rin spoke with a calm and steady tone, explaining that, in place of the White Elder, they had been entrusted to visit the Azure Princess and assess her condition as outlined in the letter they carried. Harumi, though less confident, mirrored Rin's bow and nodded in agreement, adding weight to their purpose. The head maid, her expression unreadable, studied them briefly before her sharp eyes softened with understanding. With a slight inclination of her head, she acknowledged their words and gestured for them to follow, leading them into the grandeur of the Azure Dragon Palace.
"May I ask about the condition of the Azure Princess? Has there been any improvement?"
Rin's expression was firm but concerned as he stood before the head maid, his posture respectful but his tone insistent. The head maid regarded him carefully, her hands clasped in front of her, her face unreadable. After a brief pause, she spoke, her voice calm yet tinged with weariness.
"The other doctors have concluded it to be nothing more than a fever,"
She hesitated slightly, her eyes momentarily flickering with uncertainty before she continued.
"They claim it will pass with time and rest."
Her gaze shifted briefly toward the corridor leading deeper into the palace, as though her thoughts lingered on the Princess's suffering.
"But,"
She added after a moment, her voice quieter but firm.
"The intensity of her symptoms and the lack of progress suggest there is more to this than they have been able to diagnose."
The air grew heavier with the unspoken tension, her composure unable to fully conceal the weight of her concern. Rin tilted his head slightly, his sharp eyes studying the head maid's expression.
"Is there anything else?"
The head maid's gaze faltered for a brief moment, her lips parting as though she were about to speak further. Her hands, clasped tightly in front of her, shifted slightly as if betraying an inner hesitation. But after a brief pause, she simply shook her head, her composed mask slipping back into place.
"No,"
She said curtly, though the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes suggested there was more she chose not to reveal.
Rin noticed the head maid's hesitation but chose not to press further, letting the silence linger as they followed her deeper into the palace. As they approached the master chamber, the atmosphere grew heavier, and Rin couldn't ignore the subtle signs of unease among the other maids. Their hurried movements and hushed whispers betrayed their restlessness, while their downcast eyes avoided lingering too long on him or Harumi. Trays of untouched food and discarded cloths stained with cooling water were carried away, hinting at failed attempts to ease the Princess's condition.
" Harumi, do you think the White Elder was right about sending us? It seemed like the Azure Princess's condition got worse. "
Harumi, still trailing slightly behind, furrowed her brow, glancing at the strained faces of the palace staff. She hesitated, as though weighing her answer, before finally muttering.
"I don't know, Rin. But it feels like there's more going on here than anyone's saying."
As they neared the master chamber, Rin's mind drifted back to the conversation they had with the White Elder. He remembered the Elder's calm yet firm demeanor as they discussed the Azure Princess's condition. The Elder's confidence in him had been unwavering.
"This matter falls directly under your specialty, Rin. I trust you'll uncover the truth and resolve it."
Those words echoed in his thoughts, grounding him amidst the growing unease of the palace. Despite the tension in the air, Rin straightened his posture, reassured by the Elder's faith in his abilities and his own resolve to handle the situation.
As they reached the master chamber, the head maid stopped in front of the large double doors and turned to them. Her voice was steady and authoritative as she gestured toward the entrance.
"The Princess is lying down on the bed. You may go in."
Rin and Harumi exchanged a quick glance, finding it strange that the head maid made no move to accompany them inside. Before they could step forward, an apprentice maid suddenly rushed toward them, blocking their path with outstretched arms. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with desperation as she pleaded.
"Please, don't go in!"
Her voice quivered with an odd urgency, her distress unsettling in the tense atmosphere. Before she could say more, two other maids hurried forward, gripping her arms and pulling her back. The apprentice struggled fiercely, her voice breaking as she begged,
"Stop them! Don't let them enter with any weapons!"
Her frantic words echoed down the corridor as she was dragged away, her fear palpable. Rin felt a chill crawl down his spine, the apprentice's strange plea adding to his growing sense of suspicion. He glanced at Harumi, and they both turned their attention back to the imposing doors, uncertainty clouding their thoughts.
Rin turned to the head maid, his gaze sharp with growing suspicion as he asked again.
"Is there anything else we should take note of before we go in?"
His tone was measured, though the odd scene with the apprentice maid still lingered in his mind. The head maid, her face as calm and composed as ever, met his gaze without hesitation. After a brief moment, she simply shook her head.
"No," she replied, her voice steady and unwavering.
There was no sign of unease in her demeanor, but Rin couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more beneath the surface. He glanced at Harumi once more, but the head maid's quiet finality left no room for further questioning. With a nod, she gestured toward the doors again, urging them to proceed.
Without any other choice, Rin took a deep breath and stepped forward, his resolve hardening. He glanced one last time at the head maid, who stood unmoving with a calm but distant expression. The strange plea from the apprentice maid and the unsettling silence that had followed weighed heavily on him, but he knew he couldn't turn back now. This was the moment that would lead him to the answers he sought, the moment that felt as though it had drawn him back to the path he had once walked—both in this life and in the life he had lived before.
The weight of his past knowledge and the skills he had honed over lifetimes stirred within him, rising to the surface as he approached the doors. The quiet tension that surrounded the palace seemed to crackle with the echoes of his purpose, guiding him toward the truth that awaited beyond. This was not just a mission to heal the Princess—it was the beginning of something far greater, a moment that would shape the course of everything to come.